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Wednesday, February, 27, 2013 - 4:04:06 PM

Man who held senior at knifepoint will be sentenced next month

By Lisa Tallyn

Staff writer

The accused in the incident last June where a Georgetown senior was held captive for several hours in her home is to be sentenced in Milton court next month.
John James Rodney Hill, 29, who has been in custody since the June 28 incident, appeared in Burlington Court Wednesday and heard sentencing submissions from Assistant Crown Attorney Laurie Jago and his lawyer Darrel Hotz.
Hill, of no fixed address, had pleaded guilty in October to break and enter and commit robbery, forcible confinement and assault a police officer. He is to be sentenced March 26.
The 86-year-old female Georgetown victim had been home alone when she heard a voice at 11 a.m. and found Hill in the home. She said he had warned her and told her not to try to get out the door, threatened to drag her down the stairs and was brandishing a knife at her.
The woman managed to call police about 2:15 p.m. and when they arrived they couldn’t get in the house because the door was locked and barricaded. When officers finally got inside Hill had the woman at knifepoint.
Jago said the elderly victim “was one of the most vulnerable ones in our society” and that she was seeking a sentence in the “eight year range.” She said the incident should be viewed as a home invasion.
She said Hill had broken into the home through a window and said he was looking for food and supplies and he stole money. Jago said Hill used the shower and equipped himself with a knife and a broomstick.
Hill had left Homewood Health Centre, in Guelph, an addiction and mental health facility, June 26 and walked to Georgetown purchasing marijuana along the way when he broke into the senior’s residence, Jago said.
She referenced Hill’s prior conviction for break and enter and convictions for violence offences.
Reading from a psychological evaluation of Hill Jago said it was determined he had a 76 per cent chance of re-offending within a year of release.
The report also stated he suffered from schizoaffective disorder, antisocial personality disorder and his mental function was between borderline and mild disability.
A victim impact statement provided by the senior’s son stated since the incident she was very nervous staying home alone. Due to her unease she’s moved out of her daughter’s Georgetown home and in with her son in Toronto.
“Her sleep and diet have been impacted,” said Jago.
Jago said a police officer suffered a cut to his hand, a sore kneecap and bruised elbow during the incident.
Hotz said, while it’s clear prison time is required, he believes a four-year sentence over and above the time Hill has already served would be appropriate.
“His criminal record is in no way lengthy, “ said Hotz, adding there had been “little criminal violence.”
Although the psychiatric evaluation found Hill to be at high risk to re-offend, Hotz said
“he has not proven to be this type of person.”
“He has not shown himself to be a violent recidivist,” said Hotz.
He said Hill suffered a substance abuse problem and mental health defects and that he had been sexually abused as a child.
Hotz said Hill had been able to form a relationship with a woman, had four children and had been employed sporadically.
Hill’s prime reason for entering the Georgetown home, Hotz said, was to obtain food and money.
“This was not a situation of pre-meditative entry into a home,” Hotz said. He added when Hill found the senior in the home “he panicked and over-reacted.”
He said Hill required medical assistance and medicinal help, and the medication he’s been on since he was in St. Joseph’s Healthcare where he was evaluated has been “helping him greatly.”
Ontario Court Justice Lesley Baldwin said the sexual abuse allegation hadn’t been corroborated.
Baldwin asked Hill, who stood throughout the entire proceeding and appeared to listen intently to what was discussed, if he had anything to say.
“I’m just sorry for everything I’ve done to (the victim),” he said.
Baldwin said the sentence “certainly won’t be anything less (than the eight year range sought by the Crown), but it may require more.”
Baldwin said they hadn’t even touched upon Hill’s “lifetime of fire setting” and “cruelty to animals” or the kicking of the victim’s dog, pushing the victim or having her in a chokehold.